Mechanically operated game table



Sept. 27, 1932. c. c. RODGERS 1,879,511

MECHANICALLY OPERATED GAME TABLE Filed Emu-6, 1931 INVENTOR. CLYDE 1201213525 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES CLYDE C. RODGERS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA MECHANICALLY OPERATED GAME TABLE Application filed November 6, 1931. Serial No. 573,462.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanically operated pool tables.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a pool table wherein the skill commonly employed by a player is eliminated, thus making the score entirely a matter of luck.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device which may be played by any person without having to be instructed in the rules of the game.

A further object is to produce a device of this character wherein fairness to all players is an accomplishment.

A still further object is to produce a device which is economical to manufacture and one which will not be easily deranged when in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts iii throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved pool table,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion broken away, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view showing the gates and ball carrier fingers.

In playing pool, it is common to knock a plurality of balls over the surface of the table, and into pockets, employing a cue to strike the balls with. This requires considerable skill in order to play the game and therefore a large number of people cannot enjoy this recreation. Applicant has therefere devised a very simple arrangement whereby a number of pockets are placed at one end of the table and a plurality of balls released from the opposite end of the table, the table being inclined and provided with a series of pegs which interrupt the free rolling of the balls.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a table having an up- Fig. 1, having standing rim 6. A plurality of pegs 7 are equally spaced upon the surface of the table 5 so that the balls 8 rolling over the surface of the table will strike the pegs, thus causing them to move in various courses. Pockets 9 are formed at the lower end of the table, which table is inclined as best illustrated in Fig. 2. A gate 11 is pivoted as at 12 adjacent the lower end of the table and is actuated through the medium of a lever 13. A similar gate is shown at 14 and is operated through the medium of a lever 16 and rod 17. A runway 18 is provided across the lower side of the table along one side of the table and thence along the top of the table. The object of this runway being that the balls being deposited in the pockets 9 may be released in the runway at the bottom thereof and then conveyed over the runwayto the top portion of the table.

In order to accomplish the conveying 0f the balls over the runway I provide a plurality of sprockets 19, 21, 22 and 23, conveniently journaled beneath the table and having a chain 24 extending over the sprockets, which chain carries fingers 26 and 27 which extend upwardly through a slot 25, formed in the runway. A motor 28 serves to drive a suitable gear reduction 29, which in turn drives a the sprocket 22.

The result of this construction is that after the balls have been released from the top portion of the table and rolled into the pockets 9, the operator moves the lever 13, raising the gate 11 and permitting the balls to run into the runway 18 at its lower end. By now starting the motor 28, the finger 26 will now push the balls up the incline of the runway and then across the top of the runway until the balls have reached the full line position of Fig. 1, at which time the finger 27 will actuate a suitable circuit breaker so as to stop further action of the motor 28. It will thus be seen that by releasing the gate 14, the balls can then again roll over the surface of the table and perform the function of scoring, which is accomplished by giving each one of the pockets 9 a designated value and by totaling the value of each ball entering the designated pockets, the total score is determined.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoincd claim.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim In a game apparatus of the character described the combination with, an inclined table top having a plurality of balls movable thereover, a plurality of spaced pegs mounted in said table top, a plurality of pockets formed in the lower end of said top, a gate positioned adjacent said pockets, a gate positioned adjacent the top of said inclined table top, and adapted to retain the balls at the top of the incline of said table, means or actuating said gates independently, means for returning the balls from the lower end of the table to the upper end of the table, said means including a runway formed across the bottom of said table and along one side thereof and along the top of the table, of a chain travelling in said runway and having fingers extending through a slot formed in said runway and adapted to engage said balls. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CLYDE G. RODGERS. 

